Biological Molecules Definitions Flashcards
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Molecule that acts as energy currency of cells. Formed from a molecule of ribose, molecule of adenine, 3 phosphsate groups.
Amino Acid
Monomers containing an amino group(NH2), a carboxyl group(COOH) and a variable R group that make up proteins.
Benedict’s test
A biochemical test used to test for reducing sugars.
Add same vol of benedicts to vol of solution, heat above 90, colour change(blue, green, yellow, orange, red)
Biuret test
A biochemical test that produces a purple solution in presence of a protein.
Add biuret solution to food sample. Positive test shows colour change from blue to lilac/purple.
Cellulose
A polysaccharide made of beta glucose monomers that is used as a structural polysaccharide which provides strength to to plant cell walls.
Condensation reaction
A type of reaction that joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond involving the elimination of a molecule of water.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Info storing molecule made up of deoxyribonucleic monomers joined by phosphodiester bonds to form a double helix.
Dipeptide
Molecules formed by the condensation of two amino acids.
Disaccharide
Molecules formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides.DN
DNA helicase
An enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between the two DNA strands in the DNA molecule that is going to be replicated.
DNA plymerase
An enzyme that catalyses the condensation reactions between the new nucleotides in the synthesis of the new DNA strand.
Enzyme
A protein molecule that acts as a biological catalyst and increases the rate of reaction.
Glycogen
A highly branched polysaccharide made of alpha glucose monomers that is used as the main storage of energy in humans and animals.
Glycosidic bond
A bond between two monosaccharides formed in a condensation recation.
Heat Capacity
Amount of energy needed to raise the temp of a substance by a specific amount.
Hydrolysis
Breaking a chemical bond between two molecules involving use of a water molecule.
Induced-fit model
A model of enzyme action that describes how enzymes undergo subtle changes to better fit the substrate.
Iodine test
Test the presence of starch
Add iodine to sample, if starch present, blue-black colour oberved
Lactose
A disaccharide formed by condensation of a glucose molecule and a galactose molecule.
Latent heat
The amount of energy needed for a substance to change state.
Lipid emulsion test
Lipid test
Add ethanol/alcohol to sample
Add water
Shake
White emulsion is a positive result
Maltose
A disaccharide formed by formation of two glucose molecules.
Metabolite
A molecule formed or used in metabolic reactions.
Monomers
The smaller units from which large molecules are made
Monosaccharide
The individual sugar monomers from which larger carbohydrates are made.
Phospholipid
A type of liquid formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol, two molecules of fatty acid and a phosphate group.
Polymers
Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together.
Polypeptide
Molecules formed by the condensation of many amino acids.
Polysaccharide
Molecules formed by the condensation of many monosaccharides
Primary Structure
The individual sequence of amino acids in a protein
Quaternary structure
Multiple polypeptide chains that describes the interactions of the different chains
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A relatively short molecule made up of ribonucleic monomers joined by phosphodiester bonds.
Secondary structure
The local interactions of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain
Semi conservative replication
The production of two daughter DNA molecules from one DNA molecule which both contain one original DNA strand and one newly synthesised strand.
Solvent
A substance which other solutes are dissolved in.
Starch
A polysaccharide made up of alpha glucose monomers that is used as the main storage of energy in plants.
Sucrose
A disaccharide formed by condensation of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule.
Tertiary structure
The way that the whole protein folds to make a three dimensional structure.
Triglyceride
A type of liquid formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid.
